Harsh Truths About Healthy Foods and What You Can Do About It

This list of healthy foods includes some harsh truths that may shock you. The everyday healthy diet is supposed to give you energy, maintain a healthy BMI, and make you happy. But people rarely, if ever, talk about some of the negative health effects “healthy” foods can cause. Don’t get freaked out – most of the bad stuff on this list only happens if you eat too much of it. Still, it’s worth combing through. Knowledge is power, after all (at least as much power as your next spinach-kale-banana smoothie will give you).

Spinach can cause kidney stones

Spinach is great for smoothies, salads – even pizza. It’s healthy, for sure, but spinach is also high in oxalate, a compound that can cause kidney stones. So if you are prone to calcium kidney stones, consider cutting back – think twice about your next green smoothie with spinach binge.

Read ingredient lists of your favorite “low-fat” foods – they might just be chock-full of sugar and chemical fillers. Also know that fats actually allow your body to absorb nutrients, and give you the feeling of being full longer. Healthy fats like peanut butter and olive oil are great options. Don’t fear eating fat – enjoy it.

You might be shocked if someone said you need to cut back on your extra large servings of kale, but the leafy brassica has a tendency to have a metal called thallium, and so can become toxic in the human body. Yes, kale does have many health benefits when eaten in moderation, but – careful – you can potentially poison yourself if you eat too much.

Apples can prevent weight loss

Apples are high in carbohydrates, so if you’re on a low-carb diet, don’t eat more than two a day. In fact, because carbohydrates generally inhibit weight loss, consuming too many apples could keep you from losing weight.